Saturday wrapup, Week 4

If someone punches you in the nose, slug them back -- once to even the score, then a second time to make sure they got the message.

That, in a nutshell, is the coaching philosophy of La Vernia's Bo Robinson.

The mantra led to one of the area's biggest upsets in recent seasons, a 21-6 victory over Cuero on Friday in which the Bears finally stood up to their long-time tormentors.

The Gobblers crushed La Vernia 48-0 last season, and 26-0 the year before that. In seven meetings dating back to 1993, the Bears had been dismantled by an average of 42 points, getting shutout five times in the process and never coming closer than 33.

Then came Friday, when La Vernia found out how it felt to be the schoolyard bully.

"You play a team like a Cuero or a Wimberley or a Judson, those teams come in with a 14-point advantage just because of who they are," said Robinson, whose team improved to 4-1. "(But) we weren't intimidated at all."

Running back Doug Helmke was the engine with 196 yards and one touchdown. His power running complemented a defense that held Cuero to only two first downs until a meaningless late drive, a shocking performance considering Gobblers quarterback Tyler Arndt is rated among the top junior prospects in Texas. Harried by La Vernia's pass rush, he completed 12 of 22 passes for only 121 yards.

More important than the victory itself is what it might lead to in the months ahead.

With 11 straight playoff appearances since 1997, La Vernia has long been one of the area's most successful Class 3A teams. But the Bears have also earned a reputation for flaming out in the postseason, where their last 14 trips have ended by the second round.

Clearing that hurdle, Robinson said, is one of the main reasons he came to La Vernia.

"It was the same problem in Bangs," said Robinson, referring to his previous stop. "They'd won a lot of games but just couldn't get over the edge. Part of that is winning a game against a team like Cuero. It's always hard to do, but once you do it, it gets easier."

Robinson knows of whence he speaks. The former Texas defensive end led Bangs to consecutive 2A finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.

Upon arriving in 2006, his first order of business was to improve the Bears' strength via an expanded weight room. Now, Robinson says, "When we suit out, we look as good as anybody." That extra bulk allowed La Vernia to be the aggressors against a Cuero team loaded with its customary stable of athletes.

"I thought our kids did a great job taking it to them early," Robinson said. "We knocked them around a little bit."

Just as significant is the confidence instilled by Robinson, whose players have thrived under his no-nonsense, what-you-see-is-what-you-get style.

"(Our coaches) gave us a great scheme, and they told us if we executed we'd win," junior guard Victor Buitrago said. "When they told us that, we believed. We had confidence from the start."

The Bears' confidence is sure to be soaring even higher now, following a landmark victory that could be a precursor of things to come.

Game of the night(s): Uvalde 31, Pleasanton 29. Ever the perfectionist, Coyotes coach Tony Trevino will undoubtedly find plenty of warts to critique. Though it wasn't the complete performance he's been looking for, the Coyotes' come-from-behind victory did allow them to extend their best start since 1994.

Trailing 14-0 after one quarter and 29-24 early in the fourth quarter, they took the lead for good on Travis Hubble's fourth touchdown, a 13-yard run with 5:14 remaining. Hubble finished with 208 yards on 24 carries.

In the end, however, we have to give a nod to La Vernia's defensive unit, which held Cuero 32 points and 265 yards under its season averages. The Gobblers had been unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the AP state 2A rankings.

Among the players praised by Bears coach Bo Robinson were safety Marcel Nanton, tackle Kody Stephens, end Zeke Riser and linebackers Brady Ross and Chance McGrath. Ross recorded Cuero's only turnover with an interception.

Play of the night(s): Most teams would have been crippled by the absence of their first-string quarterback. Then again, most teams don't have a backup -- or a starter, for that matter-- as good as Kerrville Tivy's Johnny Manziel.

Making his first varsity start under center in replacement of senior Colton Palmer, sophomore Manziel turned in a monster game 231 yards passing, 153 rushing and six total touchdowns to lead the Antlers past Boerne Champion 50-20.

Having already bedeviled Champion with his quick feet and panache, Manziel boosted his rushing total with an 89-yard scamper up the middle early in the fourth quarter. Manziel had scored from 69 yards on the previous play, but it was wiped out by penalties for holding an illegal block.